The first (1993) edition of Charles Inouye's prior volume of Izumi Kyoka's stories was simply called "Three Tales of Mystery and Imagination." When it was reprinted, however, only three years later, it was retitled "Japanese Gothic Tales." Now, a decade later, we have a second collection that from the first is identified as "More Gothic Tales."
This reflects, among other things, the identification of Japan with the recent wave of gothic-pop, as evidenced by horror manga and the makes and remakes of such would-be alarming movies as "Ring" and "The Grudge." Gothic has been resuscitated and now walks the land as brand-name entertainment.
This happens during times of uneasiness. The end of the 1800s, when the Gothic romance was at its height, saw the awful evidences of the Industrial Revolution. This despoilment inspired popular retreat from the achievements of science, industry, from the entire "enlightenment," into a world of fantasy, mock-menace and entertaining horror.